Podcasts about employee benefit plans

This time on Code WACK!  What can be done to protect health care for the most vulnerable in the aftermath of Trump's victory? What does another Trump administration mean for single payer both nationally and in the states? How do many union leaders feel about single payer, and why? If we had Medicare for All, what other benefits could unions bargain for? To find out, we recently interviewed Ada Briceño, chair of Orange County Democrats and co-chair of Unite Here Local 11, which represents tens of thousands of workers in hotels, restaurants, airports, and sports arenas in Southern California and Arizona. This is the second episode in a two-part series. Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!  

Join us for a compelling conversation with Karen Smith as we delve into the essentials of ethical decision-making and governance across corporate and municipal boards. Our speakers shed light on the critical importance of fostering an ethical culture, maintaining transparency, and ensuring accountability. Listeners will discover why effective governance is a must in today's complex communities, where trust and well-established frameworks can help mitigate risks.In this episode, we tackle the complexities of managing votes of no confidence and addressing ethical violations through targeted training and one-on-one meetings. We also explore the diverse responsibilities of board members, from fiduciary duties to the need for continuous education, particularly in dynamic fields like cybersecurity. Learn about the differences between various types of boards and the importance of representing diverse perspectives while aligning with organizational values. Tune in for valuable insights on ethical decision-making, performance measurement, and stakeholder engagement, all underscored by the power of open communication and conflict resolution to build lasting, effective governance.About Karen SmithKaren currently serves as Chair of Access Communications Co-operative, is a Board Member of the Regina Community Clinic, is on the board of the Saskatchewan New Home Warranty Program, and is Co-Chair of the Saskatchewan Advisory Board of the Institute for Corporate Directors. She is also available to consult on governance, ethics, and other matters since 2022.Karen recently retired as full-time CEO for Better Business Bureau of Saskatchewan, serving in this capacity from October 2015 to December 2023. Her professional background includes Director of Employee Benefit Plans for the Saskatchewan School Boards Association. Karen's activity in the business community includes serving as the employer representative on the WCB's former Early Intervention Program Advisory Committee and as a member of the Human Resources Committee for the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce. Previously carried the CHRP designation in both Saskatchewan and Manitoba.--Contact Munir Haque | ActionEdge Executive Development: Website: AEEDNow.comLinkedin: Action Edge Executive Development Inc.Contact Karen Smith: Linkedin: Karen Smith--Transcript:Karen Smith: [00:00:03] And in the end, the board is the one who has the fiduciary responsibility over those organizations. So the board has to keep up. We have to keep up with the training. So it's not just about understanding the financial statements anymore. We have to do better than that. And if you need to bring in experts to help you with the training, then do so.Munir Haque: [00:00:33] Hello, everybody. Today's guest is Karen L. Smith. Karen is a governance and ethics consultant. She's a governance specialist with Chartered Director designation from McMasters University and the Conference Board of Canada. She's a specialist in administrative justice with a certificate in Tribunal Administrative Justice. She's a certified employee benefits specialist with designations from Dalhousie University and the International Society of Employee Benefits. Karen has a long history of serving on boards and committees. Essentially too long for me to mention in this introduction, but to name a few, currently she is a chair of Access Communications Co-operative. She's a board member of the Regina Community Clinic. She's on the board of the Saskatchewan New Home Warranty Program. She's a co-chair of the Saskatchewan Advisory Board of the Institute of Cooperative Directors. Karen is also the founding member and served as president of the Saskatchewan Administrative Tribunal Association. Professionally, she was the CEO of the Saskatchewan Better Business Bureau, recently retired in 2023, she was there in that position for eight years. Before that, she was the director of employee benefits plan for the Saskatchewan School Board Association. She was also a member of council for the Village of Buena Vista and a life member of PARKS. That's the Provincial Association of Resort Communities of Saskatchewan. Hello, Karen. Thank you so much for being on The Boardroom 180 Podcast. Is there anything that you want to make special note of that I missed in the introduction?Karen Smith: [00:02:03] The only one is, for ten years, I was on the Workers Compensation Board. So that was a paid board member position. Full time board work.Munir Haque: [00:02:13] There's one thing that pops up a couple of times in your bio and that's tribunal administrative justice. Do you want to explain that a little bit to those of us who don't know exactly what it means?Karen Smith: [00:02:24] It's the final level of appeal. It was part of the Workers Compensation Board responsibilities. So besides the normal governance duties that you see when you're a part of a board that's providing oversight for an organization, in addition, with the Workers Compensation Board in Canada, the Saskatchewan Board also had tribunal responsibilities. So when a worker or an employer is looking for the Worker's Compensation Board for either benefits or coverage of some kind, one of the softs that were made when the legislation was first put into place, is that workers would not be able to sue employers if they had a dedicated insurance scheme to protect them from workplace injuries. So part of that mechanism then, to protect both the rights of both parties is to make sure that there was a final level of appeal and then if it needed to go to the courts, it would be on issues of jurisdiction or something that was patently wrong. So very limited instances during the ten years when I was on the board, there was always a tribunal. I sat on well over 2000 appeals in that ten year period. And I would say that less than five went to the court. So that's a pretty good number that there was no need for an additional review.Karen Smith: [00:04:11] And those that did go to the court, generally speaking, they would look at it and then return it back to us and ask us to consider a certain part of that particular decision. So the process in the tribunal work is really about a worker. Let's say it's a worker. The worker appeals the decision to the first level, and we always encourage going up the chain just the same as if you were in a retail store and you had a complaint, you'd go up the chain. You don't go to the corporate headquarters until you've exhausted the local ones. And it's the same principle with workers compensation benefits, whether it's a worker attempting to get benefits or they think the benefits that were given weren't full enough or missing, or if it was an employer who was either appealing a worker's claim or they were appealing the payroll assessment that was made, because the payroll assessment is what funded the worker's compensation scheme. So as a tribunal, we were the final level of appeal. There was internal levels through whatever department it was organized through. They had an internal appeals department as well that looked at both worker and employer appeals. And then if they still weren't satisfied, then they would have came to the board appeal tribunal.Munir Haque: [00:05:35] Well thanks for that little bit of education there. It's helpful for me to put a framework around it. So I want to talk about ma...

Unlock the potential of continuous learning in HR with Rachel Olson, Director, CEBS Program Development & Operations at the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans as she guides us through the robust CEBS program and its designations. Listen as Rachel unpacks the necessity for professionals to stay ahead of the ever-evolving landscape of employee benefits; showcasing the program's strategic partnership with the Wharton School and Dalhousie University. In her role, she is responsible for the implementation of strategic directions to increase participation rates in the CEBS program, growing the community of benefit professionals as part of ISCEBS and raising awareness of the CEBS credentials.She earned her CEBS designation in 2019. Rachel has degrees from Marquette University including a master's degree in Organizational Communication and an undergraduate degree in Public Relations.Questions for Rachel include:What are the similarities and differences between the three designations offered by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans: GBA, RPA, and CEBS?Who is an average student in the program?How do these designations benefit employers?What are the online study groups with instructor support and can you tell us more about the success package?We do our best to ensure editorial objectivity. The views and ideas shared by our guests and sponsors are entirely independent of The HR Gazette, HRchat Podcast and Iceni Media Inc.Feature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter Check out our in-person events

In this insightful episode of 'What Matters Most', we talk with Brandi Helman, Wealth Advisor at First United's Wealth Management Department, and delve into the nuances of Employee Benefit Plans (EBPs). They discuss the critical role of EBPs for both employees and employers, how to leverage these benefits, and the importance of EBPs in fostering a committed and stable workforce.

Dean Austin has over 30 years of experience in the employee benefits industry. He began his own agency in 2000 and Austin Benefits Group has grown to become one of Michigan's largest privately-owned employee benefits agency. His expertise is immediately apparent in the funding, design, implementation and plan administration that has helped hundreds of clients optimize the value of their plans and maximize employee returns. Dean's drive, passion, and energetic leadership are the force field that continues to push the agency and his desire to revolutionize Benefits and Human Resources. When you meet Dean, you'll immediately notice his grit and passion. This translates into his dedication to clients and the innovative mindset that helps them meet their goals. Prior to founding Austin Benefits Group, Dean was the Regional Vice President at UNUM where he oversaw the merger of UNUM and Provident. Dean is a graduate of Western New England University. In his free time, Dean enjoys his family, particularly watching his four daughters swim and any type of exercise including Triathlons. Dean also serves on many Boards and Advisory Committees for many of the Insurance Companies. He also had the pleasure of being a past President of the Dad's Club at Cranbrook Schools. Connect with Jon Dwoskin: Twitter: @jdwoskin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.dwoskin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejondwoskinexperience/ Website: https://jondwoskin.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jondwoskin/ Email: jon@jondwoskin.com Get Jon's Book: The Think Big Movement: Grow your business big. Very Big!   Connect with Dean Austin: Website: https://austinbenefits.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AustinBenefitsGroup Twitter: https://twitter.com/austinbenefits Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/austinbenefits LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/austin-benefits-group

The guest this time is Julie Stich, Vice President, Content at the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. In her role, Julie oversees the International Foundation educational programs, including online learning courses, webinars, and 100+ annual in-person educational events. As an employee benefits expert, Julie closely follows emerging employee benefits issues and trends, ensuring that the International Foundation's 32,000 members, who represent more than 25 million lives, are informed and empowered. Julie regularly speaks on health care, retirement, and other employee benefits topics and has been quoted by numerous media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Forbes, CNBC, and Yahoo! Finance Canada. Questions for Julie include:Tell us about the mission of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and how it helps employers and employeesYou're a co-host of the Talking Benefits Podcast with Justin Held and Anne Patterson. We always like to acknowledge the work of fellow podcasters. Tell us about the show and can you highlight any guests/topics that left a big impact on you? The Foundation recently announced a strategic alliance with the Wellness Council of America. How will the new partnership expand benefits and wellness education opportunities and impact the lives of millions of employees?How did the pandemic and its aftermath shake up the employee benefits space and, as we continue to return to 'normalcy', have more traditional benefits like health cover and retirement plans come back to the foreground?What are the current key issues regarding mental health/suicide prevention in the workplace and what can employees do to help prevent them? What are the challenges associated with the issThis episode is supported by Right Management North America and ManpowerGroup. For 40+ years, Right Management has transformed organizations across more than 75 countries by evaluating, developing, and transitioning their talent. Their strong pool of coaches and leadership experts works closely with candidates to help them identify their strengths, develop new capabilities, or transition to new careers.Feature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here and contact sales@hr-gazette.com. Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter Check out our in-person events

Richard Lyall, President of RESCON, joins Marlon and Ray to dig into the complicated question: Can 1.5 million homes be built in Ontario within the next 10 years? Tune in to hear Richard, Marlon and Ray discuss the challenges, the opportunities and the politics around the crucial housing initiative.Panelists in this episode: Richard Lyall is an accomplished and experienced executive who has represented the residential construction industry in Ontario since 1991. He is a frequent speaker and popular source quoted by media on construction industry issues. His insightful columns appear regularly in The Toronto Sun, Canadian Real Estate Wealth, Storeys, Builder Bites, Daily Commercial News and Canadian Construction Business. He has a successful track record in advancing RESCON's vision, mission and values through his high-level board and strategy work. He was honoured with the 2019 Canadian Lifetime Volunteer Award from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans for his contributions to enriching the organization's educational efforts and is also on a steering committee of the Chicago-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. He is also on the Ontario Housing Supply Action Plan Implementation Team.Marlon Bray is the head of Altus Group's Ontario pre-construction and contract administration services as part of the Cost and Project Management team. With over 25 years of experience, specializing in budgeting, value optimization, and providing visibility on risk through the entire lifecycle from early due diligence through to completion. Marlon oversees a team that leads the way with cutting-edge estimating technology and data analytics, bringing a greater level of transparency, and added value to all projects he is involved with.Raymond Wong is the Vice President of Data Operations for Altus Group's Data Solutions team.   Overseeing 60+ researchers across Canada, Ray's primary responsibility is to ensure data collection is all-encompassing, reliable and accurate and that it adheres to the Altus Group data governance guidelines.  Ray works closely with both internal and external clients to ensure the information meets their needs and that it is both accurate and timely.  He also regularly presents on key market trends to clients and at industry events.

Arthur Lard, the OEA endorsed candidate for the STRS Board in 2023, is a Portsmouth City Schools teacher with 31 years of experience in the classroom. He is dedicated to keeping our pensions solvent and secure. All Ohio's educators deserve a pension they cannot outlive. As a member of the STRS Board he has been dedicated to acting in the best interests of all STRS members. Arthur joins us for this episode to explain why he wants to continue being a voice for OEA members on the State Teachers' Retirement System Board. LEARN MORE | For more information about Arthur Lard's qualifications and his vision for the future of STRS, click here. VOTE | Active educators can vote for the active seat on the STRS Board by phone, mail, or online. Ballots will be mailed out to eligible voters in early April. The deadline to vote is May 1, 2023.Featured Education Matters guest: Arthur Lard, Portsmouth City Teachers Association member Arthur Lard is a Business Education teacher from Portsmouth City Schools who has served on the STRS Board since 2019. He has a strong background in accounting and board governance. He has served as treasurer of his local association for 23 years and was treasurer of the OEA Board of Directors for four years. Prior to becoming a member of the STRS Board, Arthur underwent extensive training on pension issues receiving the Certificate of Achievement in Public Plan Policy on Employee Pensions from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. As a member of the STRS Board, Arthur has been a thoughtful advocate for Ohio's teachers. During his time on the Board, the funding status of the pension plan has improved, making our benefits more secure. The health care plan is fully funded so that it will be there for current and future retirees. The Board has lowered health care premiums and provided rebates to retirees. This fiscal year, STRS paid a 3% COLA to retirees and, most notably, did away with the age 60 requirement for retirement eligibility. Teacher in Portsmouth since 1992 Teaches Business Education, Financial Management, and Accounting Teaches Typing and Print Shop- a combination marketing and production class that produces and sells goods to the public. Earned Certificate of Achievement in Public Plan Policy for Employee Pensions in 2019. Portsmouth Outstanding Teacher Achievement Award 2006 and 2018 Treasurer for local association for 23 years Treasurer for district association for 4 years OEA Board of Directors for 4 years Outstanding Local Treasurer 2010-2021 Connect with OEA: Email educationmatters@ohea.org with your feedback or ideas for future Education Matters topics Like OEA on Facebook Follow OEA on Twitter Follow OEA on Instagram Get the latest news and statements from OEA here Learn more about where OEA stands on the issues  Keep up to date on the legislation affecting Ohio public schools and educators with OEA's Legislative Watch About us: The Ohio Education Association represents about 120,000 teachers, faculty members and support professionals who work in Ohio's schools, colleges, and universities to help improve public education and the lives of Ohio's children. OEA members provide professional services to benefit students, schools, and the public in virtually every position needed to run Ohio's schools. Education Matters host Katie Olmsted serves as Media Relations Consultant for the Ohio Education Association. She joined OEA in May 2020, after a ten-year career as an Emmy Award winning television reporter, anchor, and producer. Katie comes from a family of educators and is passionate about telling educators' stories and advocating for Ohio's students. She lives in Central Ohio with her husband and two young children. This episode was recorded on March 1, 2023.

Topics    Act like an employee and think like a CEO to produce tangible results  The latest updates to the DOL independence guidance for employee benefit plans  DC and a profession update.  Technical updates.    Speakers    Erik Asgeirsson, president, and CEO, CPA.com     Mark Peterson, EVP, advocacy, AICPA    Kari Hipsak, Sr. manager firm services at AICPA  Toni Lee-Andrews, director of professional ethics, AICPA  Simon T. Bailey, leadership expert and former Disney executive 

Ever wonder how leaders get ahead by mentoring and taking risks? Should you try? If so, when? Shane and David share valid points to consider beforehand. WAEPA CEO Shane Canfield joined the organization in 2016, having most recently served as the Executive Director of the Council on Employee Benefits. He has spent most of his career in the pooled-risk group/affinity insurance industry. He has an MBA from George Mason, is a Certified Employee Benefit Specialist from the Wharton School of Business and the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, and is a Registered Health Underwriter from the American College. A 30-year career veteran, David Vela retired as deputy director, exercising the authority of the director of the National Park Service (NPS), in August 2020. In this role, he managed over a $3 billion dollar budget, more than 20,000 employees, and America's 419 national parks. In addition, Vela served as Chair for the Committee for the Preservation of the White House.  Main Takeaways: First impressions are important impressions You are not born a senior executive. But rather you get to learn certain skills throughout your life and career that you use. This is a lifelong journey and you should be encouraging and mentor those that are starting out as well as prepare to be mentored in turn. There are certain expectations and realities of the workforce that you have to learn when you are starting out. You need to have a development plan for those who are starting out. Strive for a balance between building expertise and passion and temper it with the reality of the business or organization that you are in by providing mentorship, support and encouragement in the process. Be humble when you receive hard feedback. You need to analyze the feedback that you receive and discover the intent behind it. Remember that there is always something to learn from feedback, even if you do not agree with it.

On June 24, in Dobbs v. Jackson's Women's Health, the united states supreme court stated that the authority to regulate abortion is returned to states and that the states may regulate abortion for legitimate reasons.It's two months later. What is a large, multi-state employer to do?YLR Hosts Jeff Hayden and Dean Johnson welcome Mary Powell, Director at the San Francisco office of Trucker Huss, one of the very few law firms whose practice is centered on Employee Benefit Plans.Questions for Jeff, Dean and their guest? Please call, toll free, at (866) 798-8255.

Cybersecurity has become an integral concern for employers and employee benefit plans alike. With an increase in DOL cybersecurity audits, plan fiduciaries are looking to strengthen their cybersecurity practices more than ever before. What specific risks are plans facing? Who is responsible for keeping plans safe, and what legal duties do they have? What steps should plan fiduciaries take to ensure the safety of their plan? Grab your cup of coffee and tune in to hear Richard and Sarah chat with Seyfarth colleague Benjamin Spater about these pressing questions and more!

Over one in four employers is exploring the expansion of covered abortion services, according to a new report from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. In this bonus epsiode we delve into the Post-Dobbs Employer Coverage: July 2022 Pulse Survey, which revealed current abortion coverage offerings and future considerations. For more info check out www.ifebp.org/dobbsimpact. Read this blog post and other great posts at blog.ifebp.org Join us at the International Foundation's Annual Employee Benefits Conference to hear the latest on how this Supreme Court decision is impacting benefit plans. Register today: www.ifeb.org/usannual

BRN AM  |  Sharing data to help participants and maintaining employee privacy in employee benefit plans |  Tim Rouse, Executive Director, The SPARK Institute & Jamie McInnes, President & CEO, Oculus Partners   | www.broadcastretirementnetwork.com

On this episode of Williams Mullen's Benefits Companion, host Brydon DeWitt is joined by Zan Gormley, a partner in Williams Mullen's Litigation Section, who discusses the law and guidance on what constitutes “assets of the plan” under ERISA, and why that is significant for those who administer or transact business with employee benefit plans. 

In this episode of CannaCast, Eric Altstadter, Partner and leader of EisnerAmper's Cannabis and Hemp Group, speaks with Jewell Lim Esposito, a Partner at the Law Firm of ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­FisherBroyles about employee benefits plans for the cannabis industry.

There is so much involved in designing a culture within an organization where we show gratitude towards our staff day in and day out. One of the ways we can do that is through our policies and our benefit plans. Here to help us dive deep on the topic of gratitude is Rachel Leader, an employee benefits consultant at Johnson Financial Group. She works to demystify and simplify employee benefit plans so that employees and staff always feel valued, and she breaks down this topic for us today. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3HgKt8G 

Among the many aspects of accounting that have been thrown upside down by the coronavirus is the employee benefit plan (EBP) audit, now largely being conducted remotely. Nancy Cox, partner at The Bonadio Group, joins us to discuss the new normal for EBP audits, including a heightened focus on data security, the impact of pandemic-related legislation, updated audit testing procedures, and more. To read the full transcript click here. 

A growing number of employers in the U.S. are offering family-friendly benefits such as fertility services, paid leave and flexible scheduling to accommodate employees in today’s competitive labor market. According to a 2018 report from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, nearly one-third (31%) of employers offer some sort of fertility benefit—up from 24% […] The post Episode 275: Trends in Family Planning & Fertility for HR appeared first on Workology.

Ray Bascio spent 28 years working for health insurance companies selling policies to companies of all sizes. For the last eight years, he has helped companies maximize their group insurance plans while saving money at the same time. Brian Moran asked Ray “What are the secrets to getting the most out of health insurance plans, and where do companies make the biggest mistakes?” His answers are fascinating!

In a preview of her Accounting & Assurance and Employee Benefit Plans columns in the spring 2021 Pennsylvania CPA Journal, Dr. Nancy Stempin, director of technical accounting at Brown Schultz Sheridan & Fritz in Camp Hill, Pa., and an adjunct professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University, joins us to discuss changes to SAS Nos. 134, 136, 137, and 139, and the effect they will have on auditors going forward. To read the full transcript click here. 

Arnold Sanow works with companies, associations and governmental organizations to strengthen customer and workplace engagement and relationships by improving communication, interpersonal relationships, emotional intelligence and presentation skills. He accomplishes this through keynotes, workshops, training, facilitations, coaching and consulting. He has delivered over 2,500 interactive, entertaining, engaging, thought provoking and content rich presentations to more than 500 different types of organizations throughout the world. Over 90% hire him again or refer him to others. A few of the groups he has worked with include; Kaiser Permanente, Bristol Meyers Squibb, Outdoor Recreation Association, Ski Industries of American, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Lockheed Martin, Lexus/Toyota, The National Automobile Dealers Association, Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Institutes of Health, Homeland Security, The National Association of Counties, Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Precision Tune Auto Care, Choice Hotels, Inter-American Development Bank, Edison Electric Institute, International Nanny Association, International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, Live Nation, Skadden Arps Law Firm, U.S. Department of the Treasury, U.S. Airforce, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army, National Association of Credit Management, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bremer Bank, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Trial Lawyers Association, Forrester Construction Company, Aspen Institute, National Telecommunications Cooperative Association, British Telecom, Panhandle Telephone Cooperative, Advanced Medical Technology Association, Cobham, Public Risk Management Association, Project Management Association, Forever Broadcasting, Andrews Federal Credit Union, American Bus Association, Black Achievers in Industry Annual Summit, Commencement Speaker for Stratford University and over 500 others. He is the author of 6 books to include: Get Along with Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere Present with Power, Punch and Pizzazz Marketing Boot Camp Nobody to Somebody in 63 Days or Less (Networking and Word of Mouth Advertising) You Can Start Your Own Business Entrepreneur Boot Camp A National Authority in Business Communications Arnold is a frequent guest in the media including the CBS Evening News, ABC World Morning News, Wall St. Journal, USA Today, Washington Post, and Time Magazine. He has been a National Spokesperson for AT&T and Intuit and is the President of the Sanow Professional Development, LLC a business development and training firm since 1985. He is also a former adjunct professor at Georgetown University. Arnold was recently named by Successful Meetings Magazine as one of the top 5 best “bang for the buck” speakers in the USA and was voted best speaker of the year by the Washington, DC, Meeting Planners International Association as well as by his peers at the National Speakers Association, Washington, DC, chapter. Why Hire Arnold Sanow?  Arnold Is a CSP (Certified Speaking Professional)  Arnold Has a Proven Track Record and Experience  Arnold Will Help You Increase Attendance  Arnold Is Prepared  Arnold Gives Extras  Arnold Is Affordable  Arnold Is Easy to Work With  Arnold Is An Author  Arnold Has Real Life Experience  Arnold Will Be Your Insurance Policy --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/survivalguidetolife/support

On this episode of Legally Accountable, our hosts Dan and Charlie speak with Steve Sweeney, President of NEMR Total HR. NEMR Total HR, a regional HR outsourcing firm in Marlton NJ providing solutions through both a PEO and ASO model. During his 20 years of experience in the HR industry, Steve has been a featured speaker both locally and nationally on employment-related topics that include: The Business of Having Employees, Employee Benefit Plans, Building v Buying HR Infrastructure, HR Outsourcing, Employer Compliance and Healthcare Reform. In his spare time, Steve enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, coaching his son in hockey, and going to the Union League of Philadelphia. If you were wondering Steve is not related to the NJ Senate President! https://nemrhr.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevendsweeney/

Employee Benefit Plans are common among most businesses. But just as common are the small mistakes employers can make that end up creating big problems. In this episode of Unique Perspectives – The DGC Podcast, our guest is Donny Butler, a Principal at DGC. Donny is going to discuss the pitfalls surrounding 401k plans, and the steps you can take to avoid them. As always, this podcast is brought to you by DGC. For all of your accounting, tax, and advisory services, you can turn to us. Where there’s unique perspective, there’s DGC. Visit our website: www.dgccpa.com

Panelists will discuss recent guidance issued by the IRS and Department of Labor with respect to retirement plans and health and welfare arrangements in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. (May 27, 2020) Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Alan Johnson at ajohnson@bostonbar.org  

Tune in to listen to our ERISA counsel explain how the deadlines have been extended, and for a word of caution about delaying premium payment.  

On the latest episode of Williams Mullen's Benefits Companion, host Brydon DeWitt is joined by colleague, Marc Purintun, to discuss the impact of COVID-19 legislative relief on employee benefit plans and plan sponsors.

Investment expert Carl Gagnon discusses how HR teams can discuss financial wellbeing with employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. As AVP of Financial Wellbeing and Retirement Programs at Unum and a thought leader who regularly speaks at industry conferences, Carl brings a calm perspective and decades of expertise. He reminds us of the big picture vision and explains how employers can talk to employees about the resources available to them, such as a 401K provider or their own benefits portal.  Key takeawaysEmployers who have a 401(k) or financial well-being program have built those with care. Now is the time to share those resources with your employees. [01:22]Don't make investment choices based on emotion or reactions to the market. [03:00] If you're close to retirement age, and if your employer offers tools and resources — especially third parties — reach out to them. They have financial planners who can help you work through this. [04:56]Lean into the volatility. Some employees may be saving money by not driving to work, eating out, etc. Take some of that excess money and reinvest or build some emergency savings. [07:18]If you have reduced income, use the resources available to you. Take stock of what you have and talk to your creditors and vendors about deferring payments. There are programs available to help. For example, Defined Contribution programs may have loan features. Student loan forgiveness programs may be available, including federal student loan deferment. [08:40]Carl GagnonAVP Financial Wellbeing & Retirement Programs, UnumCarl Gagnon is responsible for the day-to-day operations, regulatory oversight and compliance of the Unum global financial well-being and retirement programs which include their Defined Benefit, Defined Contribution and Non-Qualified retirement plans and various flex benefit programs within its international operations. Unum employs approximately 11,000 employees worldwide with key U.S. locations in Chattanooga, TN; Columbia, SC; Portland, ME and Worcester, MA. Globally, Unum has operations in England, Ireland and Poland. Carl is also involved with developing, implementing and aligning these global retirement program designs with the overall business objectives of Unum and serves as a key partner in the implementation of the strategy, design and investment structure for these financial benefit programs. Carl has 25 years' experience in various HR and Benefit positions, including benefit strategy, managing corporate benefit programs as well as implementing administrative systems to manage these plans. Prior to joining Unum in 2005, Carl worked in similar roles with Apogent Technologies, Thermo Fisher Scientific and in the Taft Hartley benefit field. He holds a CEBS certification, is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Administrators and is a member of Society for Human Resources Management and the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.More resources: Making Remote Work Navigating well-being and productivity during a global pandemic. Download. Get in touch: hrtrends@unum.com(207) 200-6685 

The new legislated Act respecting certain measures in response to COVID-19 has just received Royal assent - here is our interpretation of the law with respect to employee benefits.

Employee benefit plans can be complicated.If you read the sentence above and you're still with us, we're guessing that you're probably one of the business leaders who understands their importance, even despite the complexities. (Well done!)It's true that offering retirement plans to your business's employees comes with costs, responsibilities, and the task of adding new words and acronyms to your vocabulary, but is it worth it? Do businesses really need to offer benefit plans? Where should a company even start?In this episode of The Wrap, our hosts talk to retirement plan experts Steven Causey, CPA, AIF and Kyle Bonds, ERPA, QPA, QKA about the fundamentals that businesses should know about offering a retirement plan to their employees. After listening to this podcast episode, you'll be able to:Be familiar with the main types of retirement plansKnow what costs come along with offering a retirement plan to your employeesUnderstand your business's responsibility when it comes to the retirement plan your business offersHave a basic understanding of the aspects of the SECURE Act and how it impacts retirement plans

For the most part, we all go to work to achieve the same end goal: to retire comfortably. But getting to that level requires more than just showing up for your 9 to 5 every day for 40 years. How can you go further in turning your valuable assets into sources of income to ensure you are ready for retirement? Our guests today are Matt and Samantha Sagers from Mass Mutual. Together, this sibling duo will breakdown some of the common mistakes when it comes to preparing for retirement, as well as explain ways to turn your assets into a future retirement nest. Samantha: https://advisors.massmutual.com/samantha-sagers-davenport  925-979-2353 Matthew: https://advisors.massmutual.com/matthew-sagers  925-979-2364 00:42 Getting Started 3:10 Origin Story 8:05 10 Retirement and Financial Mistakes 10:42 Defining Retirement  11:20 Setting Financial Goals 14:18 Younger People Saving 17:08 Credit Management  21:16 How Young People Can Build Credit 22:58 Investing Early 28:15 Tax Benefits and Saving for Retirment 32:26 Allocating Assets 34:20 Planning for the Unexpected 39:09 Employee Benefit Plans 44:26 Sustaining Assets 47:23 Putting Together a Full Plan 49:08 Wrap Up/ Contact Info

Tom DeRoche is the Director of Educational Programs for the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. Responsible for the development, design, and program management of employee benefits-related conferences and courses, Tom joins the show today to discuss how he is working to provide different ways of offering education for apprentices to ensure everyone gets equal opportunities. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2PPHqwd 

In this podcast, Partner-in-Charge of EisnerAmper’s Pension Services Group Diane Wasser talks about today’s many complex challenges facing employee benefit plan administrators. Diane also shares her time-tested guiding principles, the current state of the pension sector, and a pair of real-life case studies.

In this episode, Suzanne Spradley and Lauren Fischer discuss criminal enforcement actions by the DOL and IRS involving employee benefit plans. Specifically, the two discuss the latest development in the action involving The Total Financial Group, Inc., which promoted the Classic 105 program. Suzanne and Lauren then discuss other enforcement actions involving an HRA administrator, an internal employee benefit administrator and a program that sought to carve-out high claimants from a self-insured plan.

In this episode of the Proskauer Benefits Brief, partner Rob Projansky and associate Jennifer Rigterink follow up on a previous Benefits Brief episode on Cybersecurity and Employee Benefit Plans by discussing the risks associated with cyber theft of 401k plans. Cyber theft in 401k plans usually happens when a hacker has a person’s credentials and is able to access their plan account through e-mail phishing, or malware/spyware. They are likely to steal social security numbers and other personal information as well. We’ll discuss some of the risks and remedies associated with cyber theft of these 401k plans, so be sure to tune in to this episode.

In this episode of the Proskauer Benefits Brief, partner Neal Schelberg and associate Miriam Dubin discuss cybersecurity issues impacting employee benefit plans. Data breaches are occurring with increased frequency in today’s digital environment. Benefit plans in particular are uniquely susceptible to cyber-risks because they store large amounts of sensitive employee information and share it with multiple third parties.  In this episode, we discuss the developing legal framework in the area of cybersecurity and outline practical tips that plan sponsors and record-keepers may use to secure plan data. So be sure to tune in for this very important issue impacting employee benefit plans.

Today's guest is very cool and very fun, Amy (Amelia) Boyd, who has, together with her partners, grown an incredible business over the last twelve years. Amy, a CPA and an RPA, is the the Co-founder of the 5500 Tax Group Incorporated, a team of experienced professionals, specializing in Employee Benefit Tax Services.   Prior to co-founding her business, Amy was the Senior Manager with Ernst and Young's Human Capital Practice and she served as the Practice Leader for Ernst and Young's National Employee Benefit Compliance Practice. The very smart Miss Boyd has thirty years of Public Accounting experience, with fifteen years of specializing in Employee Benefits. She also has had extensive experience with Governmental Reporting  and Compliance, Non Discrimination testing and Welfare Benefit Plan Analysis.   Amy is a graduate of the University Of Texas, Arlington, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. She also holds Certified Accountant licenses in both California and in Texas. She's a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, an international foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and she serves on the board of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisers (NAIFA), where she recently invited Ursula to speak.    Amy is currently pursuing the designation of Certified Employee Benefits Specialist and she has received the Retirement Plans Associate RPA designation, within the CEBS Program. All of this means that Amy's been really busy, while running her business!    So, if you have a business and you're dealing with some of these challenges right now, Amy can certainly help you! You can email Amy at amy.boyd@5500tax.com, or go to her website at www.55ootax.com, or you can even call her on 805 929 5881.   Today, Amy talks to Ursula about:   As a CPA, she never really considered herself a Salesperson, she saw herself as a more as a technical person- and so she thought that she didn't really know how to sell, or ask for the job, or even explain the fees for her services. As she worked and began to make proposals, she had to get over the thought that she couldn't do it and remind herself that she actually could. She had to change her mindset. She set herself a goal in her business, to match the income that she was getting at her previous employer- and attaining that was the  indication of her success to her. What went into the decision that she and her partners made, to launch their very specialized, niche market business, together.  She and her four partners, all in different parts of the country, had spent a lot of time learning what they knew, so they didn't want to have to re-tool themselves, for their own business. She and her partners have great respect for one another and for their individual opinions. That she thinks of offering services, rather than selling, per se, as they're really helping people to do their job. What she does to make it easier for herself to ask for payment for a job- she looks at the value of what she's offering. You have to be confident about the value that you're offering, when asking for a payment. She's not willing to undercut herself, when asking for fees for her services. She and her partners didn't see the level of growth that they wanted after a few years, so they brainstormed and came up with some new marketing techniques. Mailers turned out to be pretty successful, and this brought new referrals, which made a big impact. They're about to launch another new marketing strategy. She had to remind herself that she's making money by providing a service which really has great value, to overcome her initial aversion to sales. She's helping people to make their businesses less stressful to manage, as they interpret really difficult tax laws. Part of Amy's process of becoming able to sell effectively was that she really had to believe in what she was saying to people. Staying on top of where she wanted to go, as a strategy to better her sales. Her Tickler List for tracking her revenue- and it really seems to grow and attract even more revenue, each time she looks at it! A strategy that Amy teaches her clients- To go through what their benefit plans are and then educate them as to what the really complex rules are and how those rules specifically apply to their particular plan. You can't know everything for your business, so you really do need to employ professionals to help. Preparing for audits- another thing that she offers her clients. Not all CPA's understand the employee benefit area, so they're available for that.      

ESTRA continues the discussion on ERISA and impact on Employee Benefit Plans by Self-Insured Employers.  A victim of 24 Months Insurance Termination Policy against sick, injured, or disabled Employees?  Let look into decisions made by Wall Street and how it is impacting Main Street through Insurance, both public and private. Why would Congress allow so many exemptions for banks, insurance, and finance companies through ERISA?  Who is Congress really protecting? More importantly, is there enough funding in your plan if something happens to you? Even if there is funding, will they pay out your benefits?

ESTRA continues the discussion on ERISA and impact on Employee Benefit Plans by Self-Insured Employers.  A victim of 24 Months Insurance Termination Policy against sick, injured, or disabled Employees?  Let look into decisions made by Wall Street and how it is impacting Main Street through Insurance, both public and private. Why would Congress allow so many exemptions for banks, insurance, and finance companies through ERISA?  Who is Congress really protecting? More importantly, is there enough funding in your plan if something happens to you? Even if there is funding, will they pay out your benefits?

A significant number of Private Investigators operate a business. As business owners, it is essential to collect and evaluate all available information to make daily decisions. Employee Benefit Plans are no exception. Utilizing an independent analysis of a medical plan can reduce health benefits costs and provide a better structure to maintain, manage, and control costs. F. Randall Childers is an expert in this area. Tune in to get a better understanding of employee benefit health plans and gain insight into information that gets provided by agents, brokers, consultants and contract administrators.

We look at a case involving the statute of limitations and the issue of reliance on IRS advice.  In the case of A. L. Katz & J. L. Miller v. United States the United States Court of Claims explains that a taxpayer cannot use the fact that an IRS employee told them a claim could be filed by a date that turned out to be after the statute had expired to reopen the statute.  As well, the case provides an opportunity to look at the general rules that are involved with Section 6511 and the statute of limitations on claims for refund.The materials for the podcast can be downloaded from http://edzollars.com/2006-09-16_Statute.pdf .The next couple of weeks may prove challenging in getting the podcast up, as I will be traveling to Novi, Michigan to speak on Monday, come back to my office for Tuesday through Thursday, and then head off on my "Southern" speaking trip, speaking at the Virginia Accounting and Auditing Conference in Roanoke, Virginia on Monday, September 25 and then in Memphis, Tennessee for the Tennessee Society of CPAs on Employee Benefit Plans on Wednesday, September 27.  Hopefully I'll be able to get some podcasts put together in that time frame.The podcast is sponsored by Leimberg Information Services, located on the web at http://www.leimbergservices.com .